MMA-Analyst.com is looking to expand our view on the MMA scene and look at organizations that have fed the UFC and other organizations over the years. Primarily, our contributing writer, John McKiernan, has a geographical advantage in a sense. He is based in Anchorage, AK and recently attended an AFC event in the area. As he notes in this article, the UFC has some prime AFC veterans who made the transition down to the UFC and has in some instances, impressed even in defeat. Check out John's coverage of the AFC, and we will hopefully have a few pieces regarding some upcoming fighters in the AFC, their trainers, and the quality of talent coming out of Alaska.
Jesus Rivera Captures LHW Belt at AFC 42
Every fighter begins their career on the regional level, fighting in promotions that receive no national coverage or cable-TV hype. Seriously, even Matt Hughes fought in obscurity in the now defunct Jeet-Kune-Do Challenge. Unlike that dinosaur of a promotion, the Alaska Fighting Championship just went over the hill with 40+ events and is still going strong. Having already turned out the UFC fighters Doug Evans, Justin Buchholz (also ICON lightweight champ) and the WEC’s Scott McAfee; this promotion is no joke. The AFC’s holiday offering on December 13th “AFC 42: MistleToe-2-Toe” had something for everybody: KOs, close fought decisions, submissions and crazy endings. A champ was crowned and the AFC proved yet again that grassroots MMA can be just as entertaining as the big-boys.
Rivera Dominates En Route to Light Heavyweight Championship Win
Jesus Rivera (7-0) scored the largest win of his career with a third round TKO over Vatau Alenepi (2-3). The two Anchorage, AK fighters clashed, and it was Rivera who left with the previously vacant Light Heavyweight belt around his waist. Despite having a four inch height advantage, Rivera wanted the fight on the ground so he could pound out a victory. As all champs are able to do, he forced Alenepi to the mat and held him there till the end.
Immediately after the fighters touched gloves, Rivera moved Alenepi up against the cage, looking for a takedown. He got it and worked most of the first round from half-guard, pounding away on Alenepi’s ribs. Alenepi held onto his opponent’s neck tightly and kept Rivera from posturing up to strike his head.
At the outset of the second, Rivera timed an Alenepi low-kick and scored a double leg. Alenepi simply had no answer for the Rivera’s control from top position, and was forced to endure the constant battering of his mid-section throughout the round. Midway through the third, a final takedown pushed Alenepi past his limit. Rivera drove home two huge elbows and opened a cut over Alenepi’s right eye. In response and a bit rocked, he rolled and gave up his back. The glimpse of weakness was what Rivera needed to see. He stood and began to unleash haymakers to the ribs until the referee was forced to step in and stop the contest.
Rivera dominated the entire match and was never in any real danger.
Fonoti Looks Great In Upset Decision Win
Anchorage’s Joe Fonoti (4-4) scored an upset unanimous decision win over Mychal Clark (10-5) in the evening’s co-main event. Fonoti last fought for the Heavyweight belt in June against the champ Brian Ryan and lost via KO. Clark, on the other hand, was not so well rested come fight time, having fought just twelve days earlier in Purecombat.
The two fighters exchanged strikes on the feet with neither fighter out landing the other. Clark tried a spinning back-elbow twice only to miss and be greeted with a right hook to the body on both occasions. Fonoti’s hands looked much quicker. Clark eventually scored the trip takedown and won the round on ground and pound from the top. Fonoti showed composure on the bottom, not panicking and avoiding any significant damage.
Fonoti opened the second with a left hook that landed right on the button, dropping Clark to the mat. The hometown fighter followed up with short elbows and hammerfists, trying to end the fight. Clark showed why he was selected as a member for the 2008 seasons IFL draft, surviving the onslaught and transitioning into a kimura. Within seconds, the submission attempt was in deep and the fight was closer to ending than Britney Spears’ career after the most recent MTV awards. Much improved Jiu-jitsu and submission defense enabled Fonoti to hold on until the bell rang and win the round. As the fighters headed to their corners, Clark was breathing heavily, clearly feeling the effects of his kimura attempt and Fonoti’s big left hand.
Joe must’ve seen this and came out like a man on fire in the third; battering Clark all over the ring with right hooks to the head and body. One crushing shot to the ribs forced Clark to grab for a leg and move the fight to the ground. Fonoti reversed exhausted Lomita, CA fighter’s mount and once back on the feet landed numerous punches till the final bell rang, sealing the victory in front of a crowd who was now on their feet applauding.
Fonoti’s win launches him back up the Heavyweight ladder toward another title shot vs Ryan the KO artist.
The Undercard
Gonzalez Begins Show with a Bang
Lightweight Dustin Gonzales (3-0) ‘kicked’ the night off right with a thundering KO of Garret Hartley (1-3). Despite being shorter by three inches, Gonzales was shown the superior striking skills early on. He spread low kicks, crisp hands, and a narrowly-missed high kick over the first round. The last minute was spent on the ground with Gonzalez on top, and his corner screaming for him back out of Hartley’s guard.
They were onto something there. The second round started, and the two approached the center of the ring. Gonzalez flicked a left jab out and Hartley leaned into a snapping highkick. Hartley was instantly out and Gonzalez had to be pulled off the unconscious fighter by the referee. At 3-0 and a striking display like that, Gonzales is a credible contender at 155 lbs.
A Savage 13 Second KO
In the first and most fleeting of the three Heavyweight bouts, James Savage (1-3) slammed his opponent on their head, resulting in a 13 second KO and a scary ten minutes afterward. Anthony Long (1-7) threw a left hand that Savage was able to duck and use to get both underhooks. The four inch smaller and 30 lb lighter Long was picked up off the ground and driven into the mat head-first. Long would be carried out on a stretcher ten minutes later after having his neck stabilized. Word is that he is ok and going to be fine.
Lialisalanoa Wins by Armbar
Esau Lialisalanoa (3-1) had the obvious edge over his opponent Jeremy Winterfeldt (7-16) on the feet, and Winterfeldt knew it. The first round was too close and the action was all ground work with Winterfeldt in top position. Esau had an armbar sunk deep, but the ten pound heavier Winterfeldt powered out by picking up and slamming his assailant. Early in the second Esau caught Winterfeldt with a big right hand and hurt him. He staggered in looking for a takedown, and Esau calmly and methodically worked for position and applied his third and final armbar attempt for the win. Winterfeldt; a late replacement due to injury; lost his fifth straight bout and is 1-8 over his last nine fights. Esau rebounded from his first loss well and looks like a viable contender to Rivera’s belt.
Gary McElwain Wins
McElwain (4-5) is a mainstay of the AFC Lightweight division, and the veteran submitted William Alexander (4-5) in the second by RNC. Alexander recently moved down to the 155lb class from Middleweight and looks much better at the new weight. The entire fight was back and forth in a battle for position on the ground. The turning point in the second came when McElwain grabbed hold of a guillotine and fell back to the mat with it. Once there, he was able to let go and reverse position, take mount, and cut Alexander near the corner of his eye with an elbow. Alexander gave up his back, and the savvy old handed McElwain sunk in a textbook choke.
Two Bizarre Finishes by Injury
The middle of the card saw two bizarre finishes, one in the 205 lb division, and the other in heavyweight. Light heavies Josh Uelese (4-0) and Robert Ofiu (0-2) squared off in what would become a 14 second affair that left everyone scratching their heads. Ofiu rushed in for a takedown at the start and was caught by a Uelese uppercut on the way in. With Ofiu stunned up against the cage Uelese smelled blood and went in for the kill, unleashing an angry flurry of punches on Ofiu that was reminiscent Belfort v Wanderlei at UFC – Ultimate Brazil. However, the punches were not the reason for the verbal submission, but rather Ofiu’s dislocation his shoulder in short-lived fracas. Oddness indeed.
The next fight of the evening was won by default. Joey Fingalson (7-6) was declared the victor when Jason Coomes (8-5) proved unable to answer the bell heading into the second round. After winning the first round by simply controlling Fingalson on the ground, Coomes reportedly had difficulty breathing and was left with no option but to throw in the towel.
Overall the event was very entertaining and for the gate price of half a UFC PPV, it’s a no-brainer to attend. I encourage every MMA fan to do the same with their local promotions. You never know who you could catch on their way to stardom, before you have to pay exorbitant prices to see them go to war.
Now, if we could just do something about those beer prices….